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THE signification of the colour of the heare is not veryfyed for the most part but in temperate clima∣tes. Yet a man maye Iudge thereof some thinge in euerye climate in ma∣king comparison of men of ye climate vn¦to other as to ye Flemynges & Ethiopi∣ans. For the Ethiopians be blacke & their heare is curled and extreme croo∣ked. Yet therefore their complexion shall not be hoate but thys heate and curlynge of heare commeth of an out∣warde heate.
For they be rather colde, for as much as the heate goethe oute by vapours. But Fleminges whiche dwell in cold regions, are whit and haue their heare some what of a yellowe colour flatte and playne. And yet for all that we may not say that generally they be cold but rather that their complexion is ve∣rye hote: for the heate is within them as it commeth to passe in winter &c. A white colour signifieth either a vehe∣ment colde, as it appeareth in olde men that haue white heares or elles a great dryenesse, as it happeneth in things ve∣getatiue when they drye vp, the which for their blacknes or greenesse turne in to whitenesse. And that neuer hap∣peneth vnto men but at the end of sick∣nesses dryinge vppe. Heares haue fo∣wer principall colours to weete blacke redde, aberne and whyte or graye. The regions and ayer doe some thinge in the aperation of the heares. The whytenesse of heares commeth by wante of naturall heate or by rotten
fleame. And is a sygne some tyme of wanton maners and conditions. The blacke heare cometh of superabundant coler aduste or of bloode aduste, redde heare sygnifyethe heate whyche is not aduste for they be of a diminished heate The heares that be very redde declare the man to be a craftye deceiuour, de∣priued of wytte colerycke, ful of wrath and furious withoute reason. The heares that be of a cheste nutte colour declareth the man to be vpryght, iuste and well beloued of men. Golden heares, that is to saye yellowe heare or of the colour of golde, come of colde diminished. The abern coloured or yel∣lowe heare hold something of cold, and the heate is dead in the moyst, and this is referred vnto infantes. The people of the northe notwythstandinge haue thys heate bycause of the region. And therefore this muste be noted for suche thynges doe manye tymes deceyue the Iudgers of Phisyognomye. The blackenesse of heares whyche is lyke
to a bryghte horne with some roughnes and crookednes declareth the heate of the complexion: but the heare that is onelye blacke sygnifyeth fearfullnesse and couetousnes. The colour that is as it were a bright glistering horne, is like to the nature of Mars. Neuertheles the heares be not grosse, but somwhat fyne of the finesse of the humours, and are made blacke wyth a greate heate, which thing appeareth in breade tosted vpon the coales bycause the moysture in gone. But when the rest of the body is to heary then Mars & Saturne doe employ their forces. And suche men are commonly theues and robbers and when they haue their breast onely hea∣rie, it is a signe of heate & of a great cou∣rage. When all the body is couered wt heare, it is rather a signe of ye courage a fowerfooted beast then of a mā: when the nod of ye necke is couered wt heare euen from the heade it is a sygne of strength and of courage and in that the man is like to the lion.